London City Airport has faced a challenge from London Assembly member Leonie Cooper regarding the its plans to undergo an expansion. In particular, concerns have been raised about how increased noise levels from the airport will affect local residents.
Why is the airport expanding?
Plans for London City Airport’s expansion have been in the pipeline since 2016, but were only cleared to move forward after deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and former transport secretary Louise Haigh approved the programme in 2024. The primary target is to expand the airport’s capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers per year by 2031, which would be achieved by adding more weekend and early flights to the airport’s schedule.
Airport officials argue that the growth in passenger numbers, combined with increased operational flexibility, will create almost 2,200 additional jobs across London. There are also plans to create a Transport Fund to improve connections between the airport and London’s Elizabeth Line.
However, the expansion has been a point of contention for local residents and climate activists since its inception, who argue that increased emissions and aviation noise pollution will negatively impact the surrounding area.
Why the controversy?
Leonie Cooper, who has previously chaired the London Assembly Environment Committee, has now written a formal letter to airport CEO Andy Cliffe to highlight concerns around the planned expansion.
In particular, she emphasised the potential impact on those living close to London City Airport, which is surrounded by residential housing. It is believed that the perceived increase in flight numbers and larger aircraft operating from the airport will lead to higher levels of noise pollution in the area.
The letter, in part, reads:
“Our response is centred on long-held concerns around the impact of aviation noise on Londoners. An evidence review by Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) suggests that there are likely to be mixed impacts on different locations with some potentially experiencing higher levels of disturbance.”
However, airport officials have challenged this idea, arguing that rather than increasing flight numbers, the introduction of higher-capacity aircraft would lead to a reduction in the total number of take-offs and landings at the airport. They have also emphasised that the expansion plans contain further enhancements to the airport’s Sound Insulation Scheme (SIS), which they argue is already one of the most generous in the U.K.
Have you ever flown from London City Airport before? Do you think the expansion is worth it? Let us know in the comments below!
